#graded stakes

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Gormley

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Baffert's Lord Nelson out for a gallop

Baffert’s Lord Nelson out for a gallop

Multiple graded stakes winner, Lord Nelson out galloping Friday morning.

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What is the difference between G1, G2, and G3 classes?

The graded stakes system helps to classify important races from one another as a means to separate the great horses from the good and to keep lower-quality horses from entering the gate of a top stakes race and possibly taking the spot of a better horse who also wants to enter. If you look at the entry list for some races, there will be a maximum number of entries with priority given to winners of grade 1 events then grade 2 then grade 3, etc. G1 (like the Kentucky Derby) is better than G2 which is better than G3 which is better than an ungraded stakes race. Horses will naturally want to win at the highest level of graded event as a means to increase their market/stud value, so only the best will excel in graded stakes.

Every year, annually-run stakes races are reviewed by a committee to see whether they may be promoted or demoted to a graded rank. For instance the Cotillion Stakes was upgraded to G1 status from a G2 for this year's running after being used as a prep race for G1 winners Plum Pretty and Royal Delta before going to the Breeders' Cup. The Breeders' Cup Marathon has remained a G2 race for failing to produce anything seen as notable in its past few runnings. To be considered for graded status, a race must be run under the same conditions (dirt or turf, impost type, distance) and produce top quality runners. The purse has little to do with it-- for example the Delta Jackpot is only a G3 still, but offers $1 million. The minimum purse I think has to be $75k for it to remain graded.

I hope this helped.